You’re Not Unlucky | A Coach & Player Perspective

Why do some players stay in cricket for years… while others quietly drift away?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock are joined by coach Laura de Silva and player Charlotte Bernstein for a powerful conversation about confidence, pressure, enjoyment, and the environments that keep players coming back.

This episode offers a unique perspective from both sides of the same environment — a coach working to build meaningful relationships and supportive cultures, and a young player experiencing those environments firsthand.

The conversation explores girls’ cricket, but the lessons apply across the game for players, parents and coaches alike.

In This Episode:Why players really drop out of cricketThe importance of confidence and enjoymentWhy “unlucky” is banned in Laura’s coaching environmentsBuilding strong coach–player relationshipsPressure, expectations and performanceThe difference between boys’ and girls’ cricket environmentsHow coaches can create environments players want to return toWhy support matters more than frustrationManaging cricket alongside GCSEs, school and lifeThe role friendships play in long-term engagementWhy great environments help players perform better

Timestamps:00:00 – Are we still losing too many players from cricket?

01:01 – Introducing Laura de Silva & Charlotte Bernstein

02:56 – What makes players want to keep turning up?

06:01 – What great coaches do differently

14:11 – What makes a strong coach–player relationship?

22:44 – Building real confidence in players

27:32 – Why “unlucky” is banned